Firm Biography

Katine & Nechman: Lawyers You Know. A Firm You Can Trust.

In a city known for setting paradigms, Katine & Nechman L.L.P. strives to be a boundary-breaking firm. Katine & Nechman brings together the diverse talents and storied reputations of its founding partners, Mitchell Katine and John Nechman; the skill and dedication of a seasoned staff; an effective, efficient, and fearless approach to accomplishing the needs of its clients; the personal touch of a boutique firm coupled with the array of services and access one would expect of a large firm; and a commitment to and understanding of the vibrant city of Houston and its diverse population.

Katine & Nechman: A Proud Houston Firm

Though Katine & Nechman handles matters throughout the state of Texas and the United States and its clients hail from nearly every part of the globe, the firm’s primary focus is on Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city and world energy capital. Houston is a microcosm of the world, and Katine & Nechman has found that offering services geared to the needs of this complex city better enables the firm to handle the needs of an increasingly international client base. Understanding our mission calls for an understanding of our remarkable home of Houston.

A unique characteristic of Houston is that it is the largest and only major city in the United States without zoning laws. Most of its neighborhoods are governed by homeowner associations and often complex deed restrictions. Real estate acquisitions, including major commercial land purchases, call for the expertise of attorneys well-versed in the unique system of rules and regulations that affect Houston and much of the Texas Gulf Coast. Over his career, Mitchell Katine has established a reputation as an exceptional attorney on real estate matters, particularly in homeowner association law. He represents major homeowner associations as well as individuals in disputes with associations. His experience as a former Commissioner with the Texas Real Estate Commission and the invaluable connections he has made over his career position him and Katine & Nechman well in handling the real estate needs of Houston and those looking to establish businesses or homes in the Houston area.

An Immigration Firm for All Houstonians

The population of Houston is one of the most diverse in the world, and the city’s reputation as a new international center of commerce grows daily. More than 1 in every 4 Houstonians was born outside of the United States, over 160 languages are spoken in the homes of the children of the Houston Independent School District, and the third largest consular core in America calls the Bayou City home. The Latino population is now the majority in Houston and is itself comprised of sizable communities from all parts of the Latin American world. John Nechman has championed immigrant rights since his first days as an attorney. An immigrant himself (born in Korea), he speaks fluent Spanish, and he often travels internationally on business and to do presentations, discovering opportunities for Americans looking to operate abroad and foreign entities seeking opportunities in the U.S. For example, in China’s economic powerhouse metropolis of Shenzhen, Houston’s sister city, Katine & Nechman works with one of the most prestigious firms in China to assist the needs of American clients. The firm is proud of its growing role as a leader in the fight to better the lives of the immigrant communities of Houston and all of America and helping Houston and non-Houston businesses navigate the bewildering maze of immigration-related rules and regulations.

A Firm for All Legal Needs

In addition to his work in real estate law, Mitchell Katine also handles employment law matters, second parent adoptions, and estate planning. The firm maintains strong connections with other attorneys capable of providing legal assistance on matters that Katine & Nechman does not handle. The efficient running of the office is due in great part to a team of exceptional legal assistants. Katine & Nechman endeavors to provide its clients with the benefits and human touch that one expects from a boutique firm, together with the power, service, and access to resources and other legal and non-legal professionals that one expects of a much larger firm.

A Firm Committed to Giving Back to the Community

In addition to their work on behalf of property owners and immigrants, Mitchell Katine and John Nechman are well-known for their work on behalf of LGBT and HIV-positive clients. For many years, they have taught courses on HIV/AIDS law and sexual orientation and gender identification law at the University of Houston Law Center and South Texas College of Law. They are also well known speakers locally, nationally, and globally at community events, schools, and Continuing Legal Education seminars as well as on television and radio. Mitchell is perhaps best known for being local counsel to John Lawrence and Tyron Garner, whose landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas overturned sodomy statutes in every state. The firm is particularly proud of its joint partnership with AIDS Foundation Houston, in which Katine & Nechman attorneys provide free consultations to anyone with HIV or AIDS on any legal issue on the second Tuesday of every month.

Katine & Nechman L.L.P. looks forward to being your firm. Lawyers you know. A firm you can trust.

From the offices of Katine & Nechman in Houston, Texas, we help clients throughout the Greater Houston area, including Pasadena, Galveston, Sugar Land, Conroe, Richmond, Rosenberg, Bellaire, Humble, Harris County, Galveston County, Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Wharton County, Montgomery County, the Inner Loop, The Galleria, all areas of the Texas Gulf Coast, and the entire state of Texas. Our immigration practice covers clients throughout the United States and around the world.